Category: alzheimers

According to Helpguide.org, there are
approximately 15 million people in the U.S. caring for a
loved one with Alzheimer's. There are millions more around the world currently
caring for a loved one with this debilitating disease. And the job is far from
easy. Taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer's typically leaves you feeling
tired and overwhelmed. Assisted living facilities are
better equipped to care for an Alzheimer's patient, as these types of
facilities feature round-the-clock care provided by multiple staff members.
Residents participate in social activities and are kept safe throughout the day
and night. In other words, the responsibility doesn't rest on one person's
shoulders.

The death of a spouse is an especially difficult life event to experience; this trial poses an even more daunting challenge to sufferers
of Alzheimer's, who must now live without their
primary caregiver and mate. The dementia sufferer will typically express random
bouts of confusion as he or she attempts to process the lost. This further affects already grieving family members who
are aching to see their loved one properly grieve the loss of his or her
spouse.

However, depending on the severity of the
illness, the surviving spouse may not have the sufficient memory bandwidth to process
the death.

Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. It causes untold emotional pain and difficulty for the loved ones of the five million Americans currently suffering with the disease; but, at present, there is no cure. A recent study on light therapy emerged from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has created promise for a new therapy that might alleviate Alzheimer's suffering.